Pressure or vacuum controlled tripping mechanism.



8.1.8. PlGOTT. PRESSURE 0R VACUUM CONTROLLED TRIPPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1916.

1,210,979. Patented Jan;2,1917.

29 provide a mechanism of the class described 'which is slmple in structure, economical of rinrrnn @TATES rnannr canton.

REGINALD J'. S. PIGOTT, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES F. DIXON, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

rnnssunn on VACUUM CONTROLLED TRIPPING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2, 191?.

Application filed June 24, 1916. Serial No. 105,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, REGINALD J. S.

'Pioo'rr, a citizen-of the United States, re-

vacuum controlled tripping mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatically operating safety mechanism for any purpose wherein it is desired to control or stop machines or the like when an abnormal or unsafe condition exists.

A further, object of the invention is to provide armechanism of the class described which is controlled or operated by pressure or vacuum.

A further object'of the invention is to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in elevation,'partly sectioned of a control mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken View in side elevation .of the same, partly in section on the line 2, 2,

l Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3, 3, Fig. 2, looking in he direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated bythe same reference numerals wherever they occur throughout the several views.

It is among the special purposes of my invention to providean automatically operating pressure or vacuum controlled control mechanism, applicable for example for use in connection with any machine which it is desired to stop when a predetermined pressure is exceeded or a predetermined vacuum is decreased. 7 g

In accordance with my inventlon I provide a vacuum or pressure pipe, as the case may be, indicated at 1, in free communication with a plunger cylinder 2, in which operates a float or piston 3, secured to a control shaft or piston rod 1. Suitably secured to the plunger cylinder 2, and to the top thereof, is what I will term a trip cylinder, 5, provided, if desired, with a screw capo. The piston rod 4, passes through a suitable collar 7, formed in the base of the trip cylinder 6, and extends through the cap 6 of the same, as shown, to allow free vertical movement of the rod 4, when the piston or float 3 moves in its chamber.

Secured to the rod' 4, within the trip cylinder 5, is a sleeve 8 provided with flanges 9 .at its top and bottom as shown, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Suitably secured to the walls of the trip chamber 5, as, for example, riveted thereto, area plurality of brackets 10 in each of which is journaled a bell crank lever, one leg 11 of which is. in the form of a hook, and the other leg 12, of which has secured to the face thereof, a spring 13. As shown, the. spring 13 is secured to the lug 12 of the bell crank lever at one end only, and is bent or formed at its loose end in a straight position adapted to slide, under downward pressure beneath the leg 12 of the bell .crank lever. Thus it will be seen that when the rod 1 is moved upward from the position in which it'is shown, the flange 9 of the sleeve 8, will engage the flat surface of the spring 13 and rock the bell crank lever, as will be clearly understood.

It will be noted that the legs 12 of the bell crank levers are off center relative to the leg 11, that is, the body of the legs 12, are offset from the center of rotation. By this arrangement it will be seen that the normal position of the levers is that shown in full lines, Fig. 1, and after the flange of sleeve 8 has tripped or tilted the levers, and has passed thereby, the levers will again assume their normal position. When the rod at is moved downwardly, it will be seen that the springs 13 are depressed to allow the sleeve to pass by without affecting the position of the levers.

The trip chamber 5 is provided with slots 15, in its walls on diametrically opposite sides thereof, through which slots, pins or bolts 16 at the ends of the arms ofa yoke 17, pass. Inside of the trip chamber 5, and preferably in the form of a close fitting plunger, is a weight 18, the center of which is cut away as at 19, to permit the rod 4;

' therethrough. The pins 16 of theyoke'17 pilot valve controlling the turbine.

are secured to the weight 18. Suitably secured t0 the top surface of the weight 18 is a catch plate 20, which the hooks 11 of the bell crank lever catch and hold when the weight is raised and the levers are in their normal position. The yoke'17 is connected to mechanism which it is desired to control, which, for illustrative purposes, is shown as a valve 25. i

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the piston plunger 3 is forced upwardly the rod 1 and sleeve 8 move coincidently therewith, thereby rocking the levers 12, and 11, releasing the weight 18. Thereupon the weight drops causing the Jake 17 to operate the valve 25 to either open or close the same according to the service required.

If desired a pador cushion 26, may be provided at the bottom of the trip chamber 5, to act as a shock absorber of the force of impact of the weight.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a safety control mechanism which is efficient and reliable, and of very simple structure.

If desired, mercury or other pressure transmitting fluid indicated at 30 may be employed inthe pipe 1 to operate the float or piston 3, which fluid may be admitted into the pipe through plug 31.

As illustrative of the application of my device to a system requiring protection, as-

sume the pipe 1- is connected to the vacuum system of a turbine, and the valve 25 is[ the t is obvious that every time the turbine is shut down the weight 18 will be dropped due to the tripping of the triggers 11 by the upper flange of the sleeve 8. The normal position that the plunger will take after a shut down, is that due to the equal level of the mercury 30 in the pipe 1 and the cylinder 2, which will partially raise the plunger so that the lower flange 9 of the sleeve 8 will be approximately one half inch from the springs 13 of the triggers. To start up the turbine from this position, it is first necessary to lift the weight 18, thereby closing the pilot valve. If, through any failure of the system the back pressure on the turbine goes down the turbine.

overone pound above atmospheric pressure, the plunger 3 will be forced upward, and the lower flange of the sleeve 8 would trip the triggers, release the weight and again shut If, however, no excess pressure'at this time occurs, when the vacuum is applied to the condenser the piston 3 begins to drop as the pressure in pipe 1 decreases until the sleeve 8 passes the springs 13 of the trigger, depressing them as they pass without tripping the weight. If the vacuum goes higher than 20 inches, as of course it will in any well designed system, the piston finally seats in thebottom of-its cylinder 2, on the button headed screws 35.

It is obvious that my invention may be applied to any'pressure'system wherein a shut down or any operation is desired upon reachinga predetermined pressure. It is equally obvious that by placing the sleeve said weight, means for normally retaining said weight ina raised position in sai cylinder, and means operated by an excess of a predetermined amount of pressure for dropping said weight. I

2. The combination with a device to be operated, of a' cylinder, a weight contained therein, means for connecting said device to said weight, means for normally retaining said weight in a raised position in said 7 cylinder, a U-shaped pipe, mercury contained therein, and means operated by the action of the mercury seeking its level in the U-shaped pipe forreleasing said weight.

3. The combination with a device to be operated, of acylinder, a weight contained therein, means for connecting said device to said weight, means for normally retaining said-weight in a raised position in said cylinder, .a plunger cylinder and a plunger there for, and means operated by i the admission of pressure into said plunger chamber for releasing said weight. I

{1. The combination with a device to be operated, of a cylinder, a weight contained therein, means for connecting said device to said weight, means for normally retaining said weight in a raised'position in said cylinder, a U-shaped pipe, a plunger cylinder and a plunger therefor, said pipe-being'in comrigidly secured thereto, a weight, means for retaining said weight in a raised position, and means carried by said rod and. operated by the movement thereof in one direction beyond a predetermined point for releasing said weight and allowing the same to drop, said means being so constructed as to allow said rod to move in the opposite direction without releasing said weight.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plunger or float and rod rigidly secured thereto, a weight, a trigger device for normally retaining said weight in a raised position, and means carried by said rod for tripping said trigger device upon the upward movement of said rod.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plunger or float and rod rigidly secured thereto, a weight, a trigger device for normally retaining said weight in a raised position, and means carried by said rod for tripping said trigger device upon the upward movement of said rod, and means for allowing said rod to move downwardly past said trigger device without tripping said trigger device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 13th day of June, A. D.

REGINALD J. S. PIGOTT. Witnesses:

A. E. BINGER, R. C. SHoTwELL, L. J. DOYLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

